Physical Therapy Assistant

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Assist the Physical Therapist in the planning, development, organization, evaluation, and directing of Physical therapy activities, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the Facility.
• Facilitate Telehealth services as instructed to ensure that all required evaluations, recertifications, progress notes, and discharges are completed timely.
• Communicate with staff from related departments when planning therapy services.
• Assist in maintaining physical therapy standards of practice.
• Maintain departmental policies and procedures, safety, environmental and infection control.
• Interpret physical therapy procedures and recommendations to staff, residents, family members, as necessary.
• Participate in care conferences, discharge planning, and resident assessments, as necessary.
• Assist in instructing resident and family members in home programs and use of adaptive equipment.
• Assist in maintaining documentation for residents receiving physical therapy.
• Ensure that billing for therapy services rendered are coded accurately and in accordance with current standards. All billing and daily notes must be completed on the date of service.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, and charting, as necessary.
• Report any questions or concerns to your Director of Rehabilitation and/or supervising Physical Therapist.

Therapy Functions

• Assist in interviewing residents to evaluate daily living skills and capacities to determine extent of abilities and limitations.
• Address all goals in the Plan of Care a minimum of once per week. If a goal cannot be targeted, clearly document the rationale and communicate with the Physical Therapist for modifications needed.
• Assist in determining appropriate treatment, selecting activities and exercises based on medical and social history of residents.
• Assist in scheduling therapy services, as needed.
• Inform resident of procedures involved in physical therapy and prepare necessary equipment.
• Assist in transporting resident to and from physical therapy room or area.
• Demonstrate to residents and staff personnel the procedures involved in the treatment process, as necessary.
• Perform physical therapy in the resident’s room, if necessary.
• Reassure resident before and during therapy session.
• Prepare resident for treatment and administer physical therapy in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Instruct and supervise resident during therapy.
• Assist in designing and adapting equipment in living environment.
• Promote participation in individual, group, and concurrent activities.
• Recommend modifications and changes in the resident’s therapy treatment, as indicated.
• Ensure that all notes are informative, follow guidelines, and are descriptive of the care provided and of the resident’s response to the care.
• Provide individualized physical therapy services to residents according to the Plan of Care.

Staff Development

• Participate in programs designed for in-service education and on-the-job training.
• Attend and participate in workshops, seminars, to keep informed of current changes in the field, as well as to build skills and enhance growth and development.
• Attend and participate in Facility in-service training programs as scheduled (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control, etc.).

Safety and Sanita